In the heart of Milan, amidst the bustling streets and vibrant nightlife, a contentious debate has ignited over the city’s plan to ban late-night snacks. Milan is getting ready to outlaw late-night munchies in an attempt to respond to a large number of noise complaints.
Milan To Ban Late-Night Snack Outlets?
Milan is the most recent popular destination in Europe to announce plans to combat over-tourism. The city is getting ready to outlaw late-night munchies in an attempt to respond to a large number of noise complaints. This ice cream conflict is not new, and many people find it upsetting. The city is considering a new regulation that will prohibit ice cream after midnight to safeguard inhabitants’ “peace and health”. The city’s local government has filed a legislative beginning document. If passed, the new law might take effect next month and continue until November, which will disappoint local sellers who are used to serving gelato late at night as part of Italian culture.
All takeout food, including pizza and beverages, would be prohibited after 1.30 a.m. on weekends and public holidays and after 12.30 a.m. on weekdays. This is part of the idea to curb loud gatherings of people on the streets that disturb the quiet of the neighbourhood. Twelve districts in Milan would be affected by the prohibition, including the busy nightlife districts of Arco della Pace and Navigli, as well as the core districts of Brera and Ticinese, Darsena, Lazzaretto, and Corso Como.
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However, This Isn’t The First Time…
The Italian city has attempted to outlaw gelato purchases after midnight before. The municipal council, led by Mayor Guiliano Pisapia at the time, was unsuccessful in its 2013 attempt to remove street vendors serving ice cream late at night. The new draft law is open to appeals and revisions until early May. Amidst these divergent perspectives, Milan finds itself at a crossroads, grappling with the weight of competing interests and values. Locals’ opinions, however, have been divided. Some have voiced worry that the new regulations may affect store owners’ ability to make money.
Not just Milan introducing these kinds of initiatives. As of spring 2024, a tourist tax in Venice is being tested, which would charge those who are just visiting the city an extra cost to enter. This step aims to lessen the overwhelmingly large crowds during the event.
Overtourism has posed serious problems for Europe in recent years, as the number of visitors looking for sunny beaches, mild weather, and exciting summertime scenes has reached previously unheard-of heights. So, what do you think of this new measure?
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